He wanted to be reminded of the time we had and asked if I would provide footage and photos I wasn’t very fond of. I obliged. But, unfortunately, I lied. It wasn’t the first time, and neither would it be the last.
I pressed the button embedded in the mask and gathered the photos from the bed. I exited the room, leaving him clueless.
“Mmmm–”
I continued through the suite, collecting my things. With the trench on my shoulders, I gathered it at my waist and tied a knot to secure it.
“Mmmmmm!”
The door closed just as I pressed the down button on the elevator. I was entering it as quickly as I was exiting it. Before the steel doors reopened, welcoming me to the fifteenth floor, I snapped an image of one of the instant films in my hand.
I forwarded it to the starred contact and shoved my second phone back into the small handbag. As I stepped off the elevator, I removed the mask from my head. Relief consumed me.
Bzzt.
Bzzt.
The cell vibrated the bag it was in as I laid the keycard on the door for entry. Cool air touched my skin. I placed my back on the door, catching my breath. One blink and I had gathered myself.
Click.
Clack.
I removed the vibrating phone just as the caller ended their attempt to connect with me. Bypassing the missed call, I pressed one button after the other, dialing the latest number I had on the person I needed to hear my voice.
Once.
Twice.
My brows furrowed as the phone rang for the third time. Shortly after, there was silence on the line.
“Phase two has beenhandled.”
I moved to end the call, but heard the deep baritone just before the call ended.
“Be careful.”
“In every lifetime,” I responded, heart melting in my chest.
The line died. I inhaled slowly and exhaled even slower with the phone pressed against my skin.
Bzzt.
Bzzt.
It vibrated in my hands. I didn’t need to see the caller ID to know who was calling.
“Speak.”
“This is insane,” Odessa cried.
I strutted toward the bed, removing piece by piece. The sound of her tears reminded me of our meeting just a few months prior. I’d given her time, yet she was still sitting on her hands, and her lips were still sealed shut. That didn’t work for Teddy. That didn’t work for me.
Tears stained her engorged cheeks. Sniffles inflated and deflated her chest continuously. The lengthy lashes on her eyes were soaked. She was a complete mess. But, still, I didn’t give a single fuck. She had something I wanted… something I needed.
And, I didn’t want to leave without it. Otherwise, this entire situation would go from bad to worse. The ball was in her court. I just needed her to dribble and pass it. I’d make sure it hit the basket.
“I can’t–” Odessa whimpered. “I just can’t.”
